Tag Archives: MN North: NorthStar Lake Region

Green Heron Day!

Year 7,

Yesterday was a great day … another successful eye treatment which continues to prevent my going blind, and a fantastic dawn visit to Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge. If you live in the NW Twin Cities this refuge MUST be on your bucket list. It is approximately 25 miles north of Elk River, and there a great trails and the Prairie’s Edge Wildlife Drive.

I utilized the wildlife drive yesterday morning, and although most of the grassland birds have already migrated south, the number of water birds was amazing. In addition, the water levels are down in the wetlands which really congregated the fishing birds. I don’t think I have ever seen so many Great Herons. I lost track of the numbers.

I really liked all the dead snags and their shapes.

Green Herons

While Pelicans

Bald Eagle (there was a pair of Bald Eagles trying to catch Cormorants)

I also found this image on my camera from a trip to the Joyce Estate one week ago. This Common Merganser Family was quite wet due to the morning fog. They never saw me till they swam within 5 yards.

Spending a sunrise on the wildlife drive was heavenly. I felt so blessed to have my eyesight and to be able to watch nature. Even better, not another person used the dirt road for the two hours I was birding. It was all mine! Upon getting back to my daughter’s house, my wife and I took our four grandchildren who live in Plymouth bicycle riding. The day ended with frozen pizza and a glass of Chardonnay back in Duluth. Life is good!

Fly Eagle Fly! Dry Eagle Dry!

Year 7

After Molly had her “Swim With the Loons” two mornings ago, I doubted whether Northstar Lake would have anything equally exciting for me yesterday morning. However, one should never doubt nature. After HUGE thunderstorms blew through the night previously with over 3 inches of rain and downed trees, the sun finally came out at 9 am. I decided upon a pontoon boat ride to check out my local eagles. I have been surprised that the one eaglet present had not yet fledged.

I think Mom Bald Eagle was tired of waiting for her offspring to fly, and yesterday morning was the big event. I was actually surprised to see how well and often the Bald Eagle chick flew on its first morning. After all, it was only a few months ago I watched Hoot, my Great Horned Owl chick make its first short and very brief flights. It was quite apparent that eagles are made for soaring and gliding, whereas owls are not! The parent eagle would glide by the youngster … making sure to caught its attention, but then land 200 yards distant. If the kid wanted food, it had to move / fly.

The other surprise of the morning was watching one of the Bald Eagle parents dry its feathers in the sun (remember … 3+ inches of rain). While I have often watched cormorants dry their feathers after fishing, I had never seen an eagle strike up the same pose!

Bald Eagle Chick (just after its first flight … begging for some food in the first image)

Drying Feathers!

Bald Eagle Back in the Nest Tree

Running With the Bulls / Swimming With the Loons!

Year 7

In Spain they have their annual festival that begins the bullfighting season, and includes the famous “Running With the Bulls”. Here is northern Minnesota we have a similar event, perhaps not as famous, “Swimming With the Loons!”

For the past 30 years (the time we have owned our small Northwoods cabin), we have always had a pair of loons who nest near our property. This year was no different. Northstar Lake has a huge population of Common Loons, which are very territorial. Many mornings when Molly takes a swim our friends swim over to greet her. This morning was no different.

Unfortunately our own pair of loons seemed to have lost their chicks this year (not true with all the other nearby loon families). When the chicks are present and still young, our loon couple lets Molly know her presence is not desired. It is THEIR lake. She adjusts her swim. This year everyone is getting along just fine!

Swimming with the Loons on NorthStar Lake

One of our Loons … yesterday evening

The sunset view from our dock … yesterday evening